Making Ornaments with the Hamels

We started a tradition last year making something with the Hamels, Maddie and Nathan, for the children's grandparents for Christmas from them. This year we got together to fill glass ornaments with "snow" and then decorated them with stickers. The kids had fun. Nathan really went to town decorating his. It was wild while they were here. Two neighbors stopped in, John came home to go running, the kids were running around, Erin and I were trying to get lunch ready, etc... Oh, the fun of the hussle and bussle.

Last Day of School for 2009

Today we get out of school for 2 weeks for Christmas. I am so excited to be able to spend time with the family. I am really sappy lately. I don't know if it is the Christmas music that moves me so, the birth of Jesus and what God gave to us when he sent Jesus, the thought of my children growing up, missing time with family, or knowing that our life is so good that I am afraid that something bad could be around the corner. I am so thankful for all that I have. I just want to take these next two weeks that we are off and spend it doing things with my family and cherishing every moment that I have with them. My Christmas wish would be that the children get along with each other, that my family stays healthy, that Lorrie continues to be cancer free, that my family knows and feels that I love them, that Mallory will also find Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and that we find a church family that we fill at home in.

Pajama Day/Polar Express

Today Mallory got to wear her pajamas to school. She told this dramatic story to my mom about getting to sleep in her pajamas and then just waking up and going to school in the same thing that she slept in. Well, it didn't actually happen the way she had planned because the pajamas she wanted to wear were WAY too little. It burst her bubble but the ones that she ended up wearing were SOOOO cute. She got ready quickly and the morning went smoothly. When I am normally going out the door, I am calling to Mallory to come on. But to my surprise, when I went in the den ready to go, she was sitting quietly on the couch with her book bag on and ready to go. When we got in the car ready to go to school I complimented the girls on how well they did this morning. Taylor Grace said, "Yeah, we didn't aggravate each other". She then said "I decided that now that I am older, that I want to get along with my sister." Mallory then said, "Yeah, I want to have a good Christmas". She said, "If we don't argue, we will have a good Christmas break." It was nice to have a smooth morning!

Taylor Grace's Birthday

We celebrated Taylor Grace's birthday tonight with the family. She was so sweet and grateful! Her big present this year was a REAL birthstone ring. She loved it, but didn't get to wear it because the stone is loose. When opening presents she truly showed GREAT appreciation for what she got. She is growing up. It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since she was born. Time flies and makes me so sad. She wanted to stay up until 8:14 which was the time she was born. She watched the clock and then we hugged. I told her how proud I was of her, so smart, beautiful, thoughtful, sweet, and a Christian. She just hugged me tight and looked teary eyed. It was a special moment shared between us. She then said thanks mom!!!

A "Whacky" Christmas

Taylor Grace performed at school tonight using Boom Whackers. Her class had to read the music to the Christmas carol, Oh Come All Ye Faithful and whack their boom whackers to the music. Taylor Grace had the A note. They did really good. Their music teacher, Mr. Cole, even said how great their class did.

What Taylor Grace thinks about Santa

We went to see the lights in Stadford Park tonight as a family. It was great! The while neighborhood decorates and has a competition for the best decorated and the public viewing it get to vote. We picked a traditional beautifully decorated house, which happens to be one of my friends, but truly believe that it was beautiful. We also voted for one that had a real Santa in a sleigh

I just over heard a phone conversation that Taylor Grace was having with her friend Sarah Parsons about Santa. They were discussing all the things that they believe is real about Santa.

Taylor Grace said that one time when she was 8 years old she had to go to the bathroom, so she ran really fast. Once she got back in bed, she said she couldn't go to sleep. While she was trying to go to sleep she was looking out the window and "all of a sudden" saw some red lights. "You know like the ones that reindeer have on the end of their nose". Then she went into another story about last year Santa left a note for her and Mallory and it had black finger prints on it. She said that she compared the finger prints to her mom's and dad's and they weren't the same. Then she went outside and saw really big foot prints that lead to her front door. She said that her chimney was locked and Santa was magical since he could get in the front door while it was locked. So sweet to know that even though she is 10 she still believes in the magic of Christmas!

A Video Message From SANTA!!

A friend of mine sent me this GREAT website that you can create a message from Santa. It is so believable even Taylor Grace at 10 believed it. It is www.portablenorthpole.tv It was so neat to see the both of them watching it. Mallory dropped her jaw when Santa showed her picture in this Naughty and Nice book. She asked, "Can Santa see me when he is talking to me on this video?". She has talked about it non-stop. Taylor Grace was amazed by it too. She just watched intently and smiled really big. Oh how I wish their innocence would last forever!!!